NBCUniversal International Networks
NBCUniversal International Networks, formerly NBC Universal Global Networks and Universal Networks International, is a part of NBCUniversal.
When NBC Universal was formed, it owned entertainment television channels in Europe and Latin America. These were mostly a few international versions of the Sci Fi Channel, three action and suspense series channels in Europe, the Italian Studio Universal channel and the Latin American version of the USA Network.
In 2007 NBC Universal acquired Sparrowhawk Media Group, which at the time was a British private equity-backed media company managing a collection of digital television channels, and integrated it into NBC Universal Global Networks.[1][2] The purchase more than doubled the number of international channels in NBC Universal's portfolio. Sparrowhawk's crown jewel was an international network of drama channels available on most continents under the Hallmark Channel brand, but Diva TV, Movies 24, and KidsCo channels were also available.
On October 5, 2009, it was announced that the venture would be renamed Universal Networks International and focus its attention on five channel brands, all with "Universal" in their name:[3]
- Universal Channel
- 13th Street Universal
- Syfy Universal
- Diva Universal
- Studio Universal
Altogether, the company broadcast about 70 different channels by 2009.[4]
The overhaul started in late 2009 and progressed during 2010. Most of the international Sci Fi channels were rebranded as Syfy Universal. The Hallmark Channel brand was also phased out in most markets during 2010. Typically, it was replaced by the Universal Channel brand in markets where that brand wasn't available before. In many markets where Universal Channel was already present, Hallmark Channel was replaced by either Studio Universal, Diva Universal or 13th Street Universal.
Following the merger of NBCUniversal and Comcast, the following channels are also operated and distributed by NBCUniversal:
Channels
Australia and New Zealand
- 13th Street (+2, HD)
- Bravo (New Zealand only)
- CNBC Asia
- E!
- Style Network
- Syfy (+2, HD, wholly owned and replaced SF)
- Universal Channel (+2, HD, replaced Hallmark Channel Australia) [5]
Former
- KidsCo Closed 13 February 2014 [6]
- SF (+2, formerly Sci Fi Channel Australia, 33.33% ownership as part of the TV1 General Entertainment Partnership) Closed 31 December 2013, replaced with Syfy
- TV1 (+2, 33.33% ownership as part of the TV1 General Entertainment Partnership) Closed 31 December 2013
Benelux
- 13th Street Universal Benelux
- Syfy Universal Benelux (replaced Sci Fi Channel Benelux)
- E!
- CNBC Europe
Germany, Austria, Scandinavia, and Switzerland
- 13th Street Universal Germany
- History Germany (joint venture with A+E Networks International)
- Syfy Universal Germany (replaced Sci Fi Channel Germany)
- The Biography Channel Germany (joint venture with A+E Networks International)
- CNBC Europe
- CNBC Nordic
- E!
- MSNBC (only available on terrestrial in Berlin)
NBC Universal owned the free-to-air broadcaster Das Vierte until 2008.
France
- E!
- 13ème Rue Universal (HD)
- Syfy Universal France (HD, replaced Sci Fi Channel France)
- CNBC Europe (English)
Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Slovenia, and Macedonia
- Universal Channel Hungary (replaced Hallmark Channel Hungary)
- Sci Fi Universal Serbia (replaced Sci Fi Channel Serbia)
- Sci Fi Universal Slovenia (replaced Sci Fi Channel Slovenia)
- Movies 24 Eastern Europe
- CNBC Europe
- E!
Italy
- Studio Universal Italy
- CNBC Europe
- ClassTV MSNBC (franchisely operated by Class Editori)
- Class CNBC (joint venture with Class Editori and Mediaset)
India
- Universal Channel (India)
- CNBC AWWZ
- CNBC TV18
- CNBC Prime
- Studio Universal India
- CNBC Bajar
Korea and Japan
- Nikkei CNBC (joint venture with Nihon Keizai Shimbun, TV Tokyo, and Jupiter TV)
- SBS-CNBC (joint venture with SBS Medianet)
- SBS E! (franchisely operated by SBS Medianet)
- DreamWorks Channel (only available in Korea)
Latin America
- Universal Channel Latin American (Mexico) (operated and distributed by HBO Latin America Group)
- Universal Channel Latin American (Colombia) (operated and distributed by HBO Latin America Group)
- Universal Channel Chile (operated and distributed by HBO Latin America Group)
- Universal Channel Argentina (operated and distributed by HBO Latin America Group)
- Studio Universal Latin America (México) (operated and distributed by HBO Latin America Group)
- Studio Universal Panamerican (operated and distributed by HBO Latin America Group)
- Studio Universal Argentina (operated and distributed by HBO Latin America Group)
- Syfy Panamerican (operated and distributed by HBO Latin America Group)
- E! (distributed by HBO Latin America Group)
- Telemundo (in México is distributed by Televisa Networks and Latin America is distributed by HBO Latin America Group)
- Golf Channel
Brazil (distributed by Globosat)
Poland
- Universal Channel (HD)
- SciFi Universal (replaced Sci Fi Channel Poland)
- 13 Ulica (replaced Hallmark Channel Poland)
- E! (HD)
- CNBC Europe
Romania and Moldova
- Sci Fi Universal Romania (replaced Sci Fi Channel Romania)
- Diva Universal Romania (replaced Hallmark Channel Romania)
- Universal Channel
- Movies 24
- CNBC Europe
- E!
Russia and CIS countries
- Diva Universal Russia (replaced Hallmark Channel Russia)
- Universal Channel
- CNBC Europe
- E!
Southeast Asia
- CNBC Asia
- CNBC Hong Kong
- CNBC Singapore
- Diva Universal Asia (replaced Hallmark Channel Asia)
- Golf Channel (HD)
- E! (HD)
- Style Network
- Syfy Universal Asia (HD, replaced Sci Fi Channel Asia)
- Universal Channel Asia (HD)
- DreamWorks Channel
South Asia
- CNBC Pakistan (franchisely operated by Vision Network Television Limited)(Now Close)
- CNBC-TV18 (joint venture with TV18)
- CNBC Awaaz (joint venture with TV18)
- Diva Universal (Asia)
- E!
- Golf Channel (HD)
- E! (HD)
- Style Network
- Syfy Universal Asia (HD, replaced Sci Fi Channel Asia)
- Universal Channel Asia (HD)
Iberia
- Calle 13 (HD)
- Syfy Universal Spain (HD, replaced Sci Fi Channel Spain)
- Syfy Portugal (HD, replaced Sci Fi Channel Portugal)
- CNBC Europe
- E! (HD)
- Style Network
United Kingdom and Ireland
- CNBC Europe
- DreamWorks Channel UK (+1, HD)
- Universal Channel UK (+1, HD, formerly Hallmark Channel UK)
- Syfy UK (+1, HD, formerly Sci Fi Channel UK)
- Movies 24
- Movies 24 +
- E!
- Style Network
Middle East and North Africa
- E! Arabia
- CNBC Arabiya
- CNBC Europe
- DreamWorks Channel
- Syfy MENA
- MSNBC (Displays in most of the time on OSN News)
Other Areas Of Africa
- Universal Channel Africa (replaced Hallmark Channel Africa, available in West, South, and East Africa)
- Studio Universal Africa (available in South Africa)
- Syfy Universal Africa (replaced Sci Fi Channel Africa)
- MSNBC Africa (available in South Africa)
- CNBC Europe
- CNBC Africa (franchisely operated by Africa Business News)
- E!
- Style Network
United States and Canada
- CNBC
- CNBC World
- MSNBC
- Syfy
- E! (HD/VOD)
- E! Canada (available in Canada, franchisely operated by Bell Media)
- Bravo! (HD, franchisely operated by Bell Media)
- G4 Canada (franchisely operated by Rogers Media)
- Style Network (HD/VOD)
- Golf Channel (HD/VOD/3D)
High Definition
On the January 26, 2009, Sci Fi became the first of the NBC Universal Global Network channels to begin broadcasting in High Definition within the UK. It will provide a simulcast of the Sci Fi Channel exclusively on Sky+HD channel 214, and will air UK HD premieres such as Eli Stone and Flash Gordon.
Video on demand
NBCUniversal International introduced Hayu in March 2016 in the United Kingdom. The subscription video on demand service offers reality programs such as Keeping Up with the Kardashians and The Real Housewives.[7]
References
- ↑ "NBC Universal agrees to buy Sparrowhawk Media". Reuters. 28 August 2007. Retrieved 2008-09-26.
- ↑ "NBC Universal buys 18 Hallmark channels outside the U.S. - International Herald Tribune". www.iht.com. Retrieved 2008-09-26.
- ↑ "NBC Universal in content and branding push". Broadcast. October 5, 2009.
- ↑ "Universal Networks to focus on 5 channels". Broadband TV News. October 5, 2009.
- ↑ "Hallmark switch to Universal Channel". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
- ↑ "Summer Channel Changes". Foxtel. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
- ↑ Tribbey, Chris (March 28, 2016). "New NBCUniversal On-Demand Service Seeks Niche in U.K.". Broadcasting & Cable: 16–17.